Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, has passed away at the age of 79.
Family members confirmed her passing to the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) on Monday, revealing that she died in the early hours of the day at a hospital in New York, United States, with her daughter by her side.
Born on August 22, 1946, in Delta State, Prof. Ogwu was a distinguished scholar, diplomat, and advocate whose work bridged academia, policy, and international diplomacy.
She served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from August 2006 to May 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, before going on to make history in 2008 as the first Nigerian woman appointed as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations — a position she held until 2017.
Before joining the federal cabinet, she was the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where she gained international recognition for her depth of knowledge in global security, disarmament, and Nigeria’s foreign policy.
Throughout her distinguished career, Prof. Ogwu played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s voice on the world stage. She was also a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, human rights, and education. Her efforts included contributing to UNESCO programs on human rights education in Nigerian schools and serving on the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters.
Her passing marks the end of a remarkable life devoted to service, diplomacy, and the pursuit of equality and peace.
